Cane and Walking Stick Management System

ABSTRACT

The invention is a cane or walking stick system, which is comprised of four members that can be removably attached to a cane or walking stick, and a fifth member which can be separately attached to a wall or other vertical objects away and apart from the first four members. The present invention is comprised of the first and second members of the invention being removably attached to a cane or walking stick, and the third and fourth members of the invention being carried and stored on the first and second members of the invention until put to use. This provides a variety of means and methods to hang or store a cane or walking stick from a plurality of objects and surfaces, when not in use for walking or support.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to devices or apparatus, which providevarious methods and means to hang or store a cane or walking stick, whennot in use for walking or support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Historically canes and walking sticks when not in use for walking orsupport are laid on floors, across chairs, benches and car seats, ontables, stood in corners, and leaned against a wall or a piece offurniture, and often times must be hand held when not in use for walkingor support. Canes having a crook for a handgrip are sometimes hung onthe backs of chairs and coat racks, but this method usually ends up withthe cane on the floor or out of easy reach of the user.

Various tabletop cane holders are known and have been in use, howevermost such devices such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,330 by Richard F. Anstead,Jan. 23, 1990 refer only to a cane holder for attaching and detaching acane from a table top or other generally planar surface. In examinationof this patent it is apparent that the device is rather bulky, and mayhave sharp edges making it risky to carry always attached to a cane.This means that the cane holder must be carried separately to the pointof use, or be installed and carried on a cane or installed on a tabletopor other planar surface to be available for use.

Another cane holder being marketed by several retail stores, namely TheAmerican Drug Supply Store, The Vermont Country Store, and CaneMart,which are on the Internet, is another source of prior art. The caneholder described is for canes up to ⅞ in. diameter, attaches to the caneby means of compressive spring tension, and then the cane holder isplaced on the edge of a table, desk, or other generally planar surface,which allows the cane to balance from the edge of the aforementionedsurfaces.

One may also use the cane holder under the table: placing the cane tipon the ground, then pushing the cane holder up the shaft of the cane,until it meets the bottom of the table, thereby creating tension betweenthe floor and the table, which enables the cane to remain in an uprightposition under the table. The patent status or number for this “caneholder” has not been able to be determined at this time. These and otherprior art on the subject matter are generally restricted to a singlemethod or purpose of hanging a cane from: planar surfaces like atabletop or countertop.

SUMMARY OF PRESENT INVENTION

The novelty of the present invention is that it provides a plurality ofmeans and methods to perform the single purpose of hanging or storing acane or walking stick, when its not in use for walking or support, froma plurality of objects and surfaces. The invention is comprised of fivemembers: members one and two are removably attached to the cane orwalking stick. Member three, the magnetic mount, is stored and carriedon member two the moveable collar. Member four, the suction cup mount,is stored and carried on the vertical platform of member one a largeinverted hook. Member five is a formed ferric metal plate that can beattached to vertical surfaces upon which member three, the magneticmount, can be placed. This represents the most compact and readablyaccessible configuration of the present invention. The present inventionprovides two different methods and the means to hang or store a cane orwalking stick from generally horizontal surfaces, rods, or rails suchas: the back of a chair or wheelchair, a walker, clothes rod, coat rack,or handrail. This is accomplished by utilizing the inverted hooks ofmembers one or two to engage and hang the cane or walking stick from theaforementioned objects. The invention also provides two differentmethods and the means to hang or store a cane or walking stick from agenerally planar surface of varying thicknesses and textures such as: aconventional table, a wood grained or concrete picnic table, or a shelfor ledge. This is accomplished by utilizing the inverted hooks ofmembers one or two of the invention to hang the cane or walking stickfrom the edge of said planar surface, or by using members one and two tocapture said planar surface between members one and two. The presentinvention finally provides two methods and the means to hang or store acane or walking stick from generally fixed vertical objects (ferric ornon-ferric) such as: a wall, desk, stove, refrigerator, or motorvehicle. This is accomplished by means of utilizing the slotted portionof the inverted hook of member one to engage the head of a screw, nail,other suitably sized protrusions from said vertical objects, or themolded button portion of member three of the invention. Which is aremovably attached magnetic member that can be placed on member five, aformed ferric metal plate, or independently of the ferric metal plate onany other ferric metal object.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of first four members of the invention asthey might be arranged on a cane or walking stick, comprising FIG. 3,FIG. 4, and FIG. 12;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fifth member of the invention,wherein detail 17 is a formed ferric metal plate with a bent lip at thebottom, detail 18, and two mounting holes, detail 19, as a means ofattachment to a ferric or non-ferric vertical or near vertical surface;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first member of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second member of the invention,which is a composite drawing consisting of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. Details 11and 13 show the third member of the invention, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, amagnetic mount, which is stored magnetically in the channel of FIG. 5,by means of detail 10;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a movable collar, with an inverted hookand a channel opposite the inverted hook, and a formed ferric metalplate, detail 10, to be attached within said channel illustrated indetail 9 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the third member of the invention, a magneticmount, with detail 11, a molded channel and detail 13, a molded button;

FIG. 7 is a back view of FIG. 6, the third member of the invention,illustrating a molded channel, detail 11, with a circular opening toreceive detail 12 a circular magnet;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of FIG. 3, FIG. 5, and FIG. 12 as theymight be configured on a cane or walking stick, and illustrating thethird member of the invention, the magnetic mount, FIG. 6, being removedfrom the channel of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the third member of the invention, FIG.6, being magnetically attached to FIG. 2, a formed ferric metal plate;

FIG. 2 is a formed ferric metal plate, which can be secured to avertical or near vertical object such as a non-ferric wall, or otherobject. FIG. 2, on the same page as FIG. 8, is another view of FIG. 2 asit would be mounted separately without the magnetic mount, FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of FIG. 1, on the shaft of a cane orwalking stick with FIG. 4, raised to receive a planer surface, such as atable top, shelf, ledge, or some other planar surface, then lowered tocapture and hold said planar surface between figures FIG. 1 and FIG. 4,holding the cane or walking stick suspended from the said planarsurface;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, with FIG. 12 removedfrom its storage on FIG. 1, to be attached by means of a suction cup,detail 14, and applied to a smooth planar surface, and said suction cuphaving an arm extending outward from the suction cup, detail 15, andhaving a molded button means, detail 16, on the exposed end of the armto engage a slotted portion, detail 5, of FIG. 3 to suspend a cane orwalking stick therefrom;

FIG. 12 on the same page as FIG. 11 is another perspective view of FIG.12, not being attached to a planar surface or to detail 1 of FIG. 1.

A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view comprising the first four members of theinvention as they might be configured on the shaft of a cane, or awalking stick. FIG. 1 is comprised of FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 6, and FIG.12 of the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fifth member of the invention,comprising a formed ferric metal plate, detail 17, with a lip on thebottom bent at 90 degrees, detail 18, and two holes, detail 19, toprovide a means of attachment of the ferric metal plate, FIG. 2, toferric or non-ferric vertical or near vertical surfaces. The object anduseful purpose of FIG. 2 is that it can be attached to most vertical ornear vertical objects (e.g. walls, furniture, appliances, and machinery)and provides a means to magnetically hold and prevent the slippingdownward of FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a third member of the invention, amagnetic mount, that provides a molded button, detail 13 of FIG. 6, as ameans of hanging a cane or walking stick, by means of the slottedportion, detail 5, of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first member of the invention, beingmolded of a resilient plastic, such as polypropylene or anotherresilient plastic, comprising first a platform, detail 1, and having tworesilient members, detail 2, partially surrounding the shaft of a caneor walking stick, to provide a movable griping means of attachment of aninverted hook, detail 3 of FIG. 3, it further provides a receiver,

detail 4 of FIG. 3, to receive detail 8, the inverted hook of FIG. 4 andFIG. 5. Detail 3 of FIG. 3, the large inverted hook, provides severalmethods and the means to hang a cane or walking stick from the back of achair, wheelchair, clothes rack, rod, or rail of varying thicknessesfrom one to two inches. When FIG. 12 remains attached to detail 1 ofFIG. 3, the cane or walking stick can be hung from a chair, rod, or railup to one inch thick. When FIG. 12 is removed from detail 1 of FIG. 3, acane or walking stick can be hung from a chair, rod, or rail up to twoinches in thickness. FIG. 12, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is convenientlystored within the crook of the large hook of FIG. 1, being attached andheld in place on the first platform, detail 1 of FIG. 3, by means of asuction cup, detail 14 of FIG. 12. FIG. 3, detail 3, further provides aslotted portion, detail 5, on the exposed end of detail 3, to engage theprotruding head of a screw or a molded button such as: details 13 ofFIG. 4 and FIG. 6 and detail 16 of FIG. 12 to provide other means tohang a cane or walking stick therefrom.

FIG. 4 is a composite perspective view of the second member of theinvention comprising FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a magnetic mount, magneticallyattached and stored in a channel, detail 9 of FIG. 5. FIG. 4, comprisingFIG. 5, and FIG. 6, being movable up or down and rotatable on the shaftof a cane or walking stick, above FIG. 1. FIG. 4 can be raised from FIG.3, detail 4, then lowered to capture the straps of a handbag, grocerybag, or other items with straps, by means of detail 8 of FIG. 4, tosecure the aforementioned items to a cane or walking stick; thereby,leaving one hand free to grasp hand rails, open doors, or shop. FIG. 4when used with FIG. 1 also provides a means of attachment to a planarsurface as further described in FIG. 10.

FIG. 5, is the second member of the invention wherein detail 6illustrates a movable collar that encircles the shaft of a cane orwalking stick, with an opening detail 7, which is movable up or down,and rotatable on the shaft of a cane or walking stick, and provides aninverted hook, detail 8 of FIG. 5, and further provides a moldedchannel, detail 9, of FIG. 5. Detail 8 of FIG. 5, provides an invertedhook which provides another method and the means to hang a cane orwalking from the back of a chair, rod, or rail having a thickness of oneinch or less. When FIG. 4 has been raised enough to clear detail 4 ofFIG. 3, and rotated to one side or the other allowing the inverted hook,detail 8 of FIG. 4, to provide the means to hang a cane or walking stickfrom the back of a chair, rod, or rail with a thickness of one inch orless. The method of rotating FIG. 4 to one side or the other, alsoprovides another means to hang a cane or walking stick from a planarsurface, such as table top, by means of the foot of detail 8 of FIG. 4,being placed near the edge of said planar surface with a cane or walkingstick being balanced from the edge of said planar surface. FIG. 5further provides a horizontally molded channel, detail 9, and a formedferric metal plate detail 10, which is to be attached within the formedchannel, detail 9, of FIG. 5, and to magnetically attach and store thethird member of the invention, FIG. 6, within the formed channel, detail9 and 10 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a perspective front view of the third member of the invention,a magnetic mount. Comprising, a vertical molded channel of plasticdetail 11, having a molded button means, detail 13, to engage detail 5,of the slotted portion of detail 3, in FIG. 3. The object and purpose ofwhich is to hang or store a cane or walking stick from the molded buttonmeans detail 13 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a perspective back view of the third member of the invention,a magnetic mount, comprising a plastic channel, detail 11, with anopening to receive a circular magnet, detail 12, to be fastened in theopening of detail 11, providing a means of magnetically attaching saidmagnetic mount to a ferric metal plate, detail 10, fastened within themolded channel of detail 9 of FIG. 5, and providing a means of attachingsaid magnetic mount, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, to FIG. 2 a formed ferric metalplate that can be fastened to a vertical or near vertical ferric ornon-ferric surface. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 comprising the magnetic mount,also provides a means to attach said magnetic mount to vertical ferricmetal objects, such as vehicles, appliances, metal furniture, ormachinery.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of FIG. 3 the first member of theinvention, with FIG. 5 the second member of the invention, and FIG. 12the fourth member of the invention: as they might be configured on theshaft of a cane or walking stick.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of FIG. 6 the third member of theinvention, a magnetic mount, which is magnetically attached to FIG. 2 aformed ferric metal plate, as detailed in the descriptions of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the first member and the second member,FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, of the invention as they might be configured on acane or walking stick. FIG. 4 is raised above FIG. 3 on the cane orwalking stick, to place a planar surface (e.g. a tabletop, countertop,ledge, or edge), between the first member and the second member of theinvention. The first member being under the second member, with saidplanar surface between said first and second members, then the secondmember need only be lowered to secure said planar surface between thefirst and second members of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the first member, FIG. 1, and thesecond member, FIG. 4 of the invention, as they might be configured on acane or walking stick, with FIG. 12 removed from detail 1 of

FIG. 3. FIG. 12 has been attached to a smooth planar surface (e.g. atabletop, countertop, ledge, or edge) by means of a suction cup, detail14 of FIG. 12, which has an arm extending therefrom, detail 15, and amolded button, detail 16, of FIG. 12, that engages a slotted end, detail5 of detail 3, of FIG. 3 the first member of the invention, whichprovides a means to hang a cane or walking stick from said planarsurface.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of FIG. 12, not attached to a planarsurface or detail 1 of FIG. 3, comprising a suction cup, detail 14, withan arm extending therefrom, detail 15, and a molded button means on theexposed end, detail 16, which can engage the slotted end, detail 5 ofdetail 3, of FIG. 1 the first member of the invention.

While the invention has been described by reference to a particularembodiment, there is no intent to limit the spirit and scope of theinvention to the precise details so set forth except as defined in thefollowing claims.

1. An apparatus for use with a cane or walking stick, comprising fivemembers of the apparatus, for use to hang and store a cane or walkingstick from a plurality of objects and surfaces comprising: A firstmember comprising a platform, which is removably attached to a cane orwalking stick by means of a portion of said platform, formed topartially encircle the shaft of a cane or walking stick, which can beattached or detached from a cane or walking stick by means of aresilient material such as polypropylene or a similar material, used inthe construction of the first member, which provides a griping means ofsaid shaft, and said first member of the apparatus having an invertedhook with a slotted portion at the exposed end of the inverted hook, anda raised portion on the topside of the inverted hook to receive ainverted hook of the second member of the apparatus; A second membercomprising a movable collar encircling the shaft of a cane or walkingstick, which is moveable up or down and rotatable on said shaft, andincludes an inverted hook and a horizontally molded channel with aformed ferric metal plate attached within said channel; A third membercomprising a molded plastic channel with a magnet contained within saidchannel and said channel sized to fit and to be magnetically attachedwithin the channel of the second member and be removable from thechannel of the second member, and having a molded button means to engagethe slotted portion of the inverted hook of the first member; A fourthmember comprising a suction cup with an arm extending therefrom with amolded button means on the exposed end of said arm to engage the slottedportion of the inverted hook of the first member; A fifth membercomprising a formed ferric metal plate bent at the bottom at a 90 degreeangle and two punched holes in said ferric metal plate as a means ofattachment to an object;
 2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein: Saidfirst member comprising a platform, which is removably attached to acane or walking stick and comprises an inverted hook as a means to hanga cane or walking stick; And said inverted hook further comprises areceiver on the topside of said inverted hook to receive a secondinverted hook of a second member of the apparatus; And said invertedhook also comprises a slotted portion on the exposed end of saidinverted hook as a means to engage a suitably sized protrusion or moldedbutton as a means to hang a cane or walking therefrom;
 3. An apparatusas in claim 1 wherein: Said second member comprising a movable collarwhich encircles the shaft of a cane or walking stick and is movable upand down and is rotatable on said shaft and further comprises aninverted hook, which can be raised to receive the strap or handle of anobject, then lowered to capture and secure said handle or strap betweensaid inverted hook of the second member, and the raised portion on thetopside of the inverted hook of the first member, which receives the endportion of said inverted hook of the second member; And said secondmember being movable up and down and comprising an inverted hook whichcan be raised to accept a planar surface of varying thickness thenlowered to capture said planar surface between said inverted hook of thesecond member and the inverted hook of the first member releasableclamping said planar surface to hang a cane or walking stick from saidplanar surface; And said second member being movable up and down androtatable on the shaft of a cane or walking stick, and comprising aninverted hook, and said inverted hook raised above the receiver memberof the inverted hook of the first member and rotated 90 degrees to oneside or the other, allows the foot of the inverted hook of the secondmember to be placed near the edge of a planar surface to hang a cane orwalking stick from said planar surface; And said second membercomprising a movable collar on the shaft of a cane or walking stick andfurther comprising a molded channel with a ferric metal plate attachedwithin said channel and said channel sized to hold and store a thirdmember.
 4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein: Said third membercomprises a molded plastic channel sized to fit and to receive theslotted portion of the inverted hook of the first member and having amolded button means to engage said slotted portion of the first member,as a means to hang a cane or walking stick therefrom, and furthercomprising an opening on the backside of said channel, of theappropriate size to accommodate a circular or rectangular magnet to besecured in said opening; And the third member comprising a moldedchannel, a molded button means and a secured magnet within said moldedchannel to provide a means to magnetically attach said third member toany ferric metal surface or a formed ferric metal plate as described inclaim 1, and sized to be magnetically attached and stored, when not inuse, in the channel provided by said second member.
 5. An apparatus asin claim 1 wherein: Said fourth member comprising a suction cup with aarm extending therefrom and having a molded button means on the exposedend of said arm to engage the slotted portion of the inverted hook ofthe first member; Said suction cup being applied by suction to a smoothplanar surface with an arm extending therefrom, which is extended beyondthe edge of said planar surface and having a molded button means on theexposed end of said arm to engage the slotted portion of the invertedhook of the first member, thereby providing a means to hang a cane orwalking stick from a planar surface; And said fourth member comprising asuction cup means of attachment to a planar surface can use such meansof attachment to carry and store said fourth member, when not in use, onthe vertical planar surface of said platform of said first member;
 6. Anapparatus as in claim 1 wherein: Said fifth member comprising a formedferric metal plate having a 90 degree bent portion at the bottom thereofand one or more holes as a means of attachment, from screws or othermeans, to a vertical or near vertical ferric or non-ferric surface; Andsaid fifth member comprising a formed ferric metal plate having a 90degree bend at the bottom of said ferric metal plate to be magneticallyand removably attached to said third member and prevented from slidingdownward while attached to said ferric metal plate by means of a 90degree bend at the bottom of the formed ferric metal plate; And saidferric metal plate with the third member magnetically attached providinga molded button means to engage the slotted portion of the inverted hookof the first member providing a means to hang a cane or walking stickfrom a vertical or near vertical ferric or non-ferric surface.
 7. A caneand walking stick management system for use with canes and walkingsticks providing a plurality of methods and means to hang and store acane or walking stick from a plurality of objects and surfacescomprising; A cane and walking stick management system comprised ofclaims 1 through claim 6 of the present invention, to provide aplurality of methods and means to hang and store a cane or walking stickfrom a plurality objects and surfaces; A cane and walking stickmanagement system comprised of claims 1 through claim 6 of the presentinvention, which provides removable attachment of the first and secondmembers of the present invention to a cane or walking stick, andprovides removable attachment of the third and fourth members of theinvention to the first and second members of the invention, to providethe most compact and accessible configuration of the present invention.And provides a fifth member of the invention, a formed ferric metalplate being attachable to other objects, apart from the cane or walkingstick, and capable of receiving the third member of the invention bymeans of magnetic attachment.
 8. An apparatus comprising a platform,which is removably attached to a cane or walking stick by means of aportion of said platform, formed to partially encircle the shaft of acane or walking stick, which can be attached or detached from a cane orwalking stick by means of a resilient material, such as polypropylene ora similar material used in the construction of the first member, toprovide a griping means of said shaft. And said first member of theapparatus comprising an inverted hook with a slotted portion at theexposed end of the inverted hook and further comprising a raised portionon the topside of the inverted hook formed to provide a hooking means onthe topside of the inverted hook.
 9. An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein:Said apparatus comprising a platform, which is removably attached to acane or walking stick and comprises an inverted hook as a means to hanga cane or walking stick.
 10. An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein: Saidapparatus comprising a platform, which is removably attached to a caneor walking stick and comprises an inverted hook with a slotted portionat the exposed end of the inverted hook to provide a means to engage aprotruding head of a screw or molded button as a means to hang a cane orwalking stick therefrom
 11. An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein: Saidapparatus comprises a platform, which is removably attached to a cane orwalking stick and comprises an inverted hook and further comprises ahooking means on the topside of said inverted hook as a means to hang aobject with straps or handles from said inverted hook of the apparatus.12. An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein: Said apparatus comprises aplatform which is removably attached to a cane or walking stick andcomprises an inverted hook and further comprises a suction cup means ofattachment to said platform within the crook of said inverted hook, andfurther provides an arm extending outward from said suction cup with amolded button means on the exposed end of said arm to engage the slottedportion of the inverted hook of the first member, when removed from itsstorage area within the crook of the inverted hook, to be attached bysuction cup means to a smooth planar surface as a means to hang a caneor walking stick from a planar surface;
 13. An apparatus as in claim 1wherein: Said second member comprises a movable collar encircling theshaft of a cane or walking stick, which is movable up and down androtatable on the said shaft. And comprises an inverted hook, and saidmovable collar and inverted hook being made of a resilient plasticmaterial such as polypropylene or a material having a similar resilientcharacter, to provide a snug fit on the shaft of a cane or walkingstick, to provide only intentional movement of said collar and invertedhook up or down or be rotated on said shaft; And said collar with aninverted hook can be intentionally moved up or down or rotated on theshaft of a cane or walking stick to provide a means to hang a cane orwalking stick; And said collar with an inverted hook can be rotated assuited to place the foot of the inverted hook near the edge of a planarsurface, to balance a cane or walking stick from said planar surface.